Like you'd expect from any activity involving green horses, the 100-Day Thoroughbred Challenge offered spectators at the Maryland Horse World Expo, Jan. 18-20 in Timonium, Md., some thrills, spills and surprises. But it also offered inspiration (to ride better), information (on why Thoroughbreds off the track do some of the things they do), and a solid case made on behalf of ex-racers as excellent sport horses-in-waiting.
It used to be that if you wanted to check out a promising horse coming off the racetrack, you needed an “in”—someone who could get you access to the backstretch and put you in touch with race horse trainers who might have good sport horse candidates. Those two universes—”race horse people” and “sport horse people”—well, it was often a case of “never the twain shall meet.”
On a muggy afternoon in July, the infield at Pimlico Race Course rumbled with the sound of galloping hooves of a different kind—an all-Thoroughbred horse show designed to showcase the versatility of the breed and raise funds for rehoming organizations.
What’s one way to stand out in the show ring? Wear stripes!
After Zack the zebra kept jumping out of his field, Sammi Jo Stohler figured he might have a knack for having fun over fences. “I had to build an 8' fence around the property because he kept jumping out,” she said. “He can clear 5' without a problem; he just walks up to a fence and ends up on the other side of it. I said, ‘I bet he can do it with a rider,’ and yep, it was no problem.”
Warmbloods carry a brand specific to their type, signifying lineage and quality. Here’s how to identify some of the most common and how they came to be.
Watch any national or international competition, and you’re sure to find countless warmbloods in attendance. Shaped by European history and named after monarchies and regions, the warmbloods
of today appeal to equestrians due to their athletic ability and attractive style.
With the imported European sport ponies taking more and more accolades in the United States, a group of U.S. breeders discusses the current trends and future of our sport pony industry.
When most people think of ponies, an image of a cute and cuddly, but squatty creature comes to mind; a small horse who typically jumps quite well and exhibits a "daisy-cutter" movement often well-suited for the show ring. In recent years, however, sport ponies have made their mark in the show world, excelling in numerous disciplines and erasing America's idea of a tiny "Thelwell" pony.
She's perhaps best known for her famous Welsh pony breeding operation, but Joan Dunning's love for equines goes much deeper. Her stud farm called Farnley, located in White Post, Va., is the first American home to the Dartmoor pony, a rare breed that originated in Great Britain.
Dunning stumbled across the Dartmoor ponies while in England in the early 20th century, and a love affair began that's endured for nearly a century.
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